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Government benefit: side-by-side comparison
	Medicare
Country	United States
Type	Health care
Official name	Medicare (Parts A, B, C and D)
Run by	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Enrollment is through the Social Security Administration.
Who it is for	People 65 or older, and some younger people with disabilities.
Eligibility	People 65 or older who meet citizenship or residency requirements. People under 65 who have received Social Security disability benefits, or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits, for 24 months. People of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure needing dialysis or a transplant) who meet work-history rules, and people with ALS. SSI on its own does not qualify you for Medicare.
What you get	Health coverage, not cash. Part A covers hospital care, Part B covers doctors and outpatient care, Part D covers prescription drugs, and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are an alternative way to get your coverage. Premiums and costs apply.
How to apply	Sign up through Social Security at ssa.gov/medicare. Some people are enrolled automatically.
Official sources	Get started with Medicare Parts of Medicare Sign up for Medicare (SSA)
Last checked	15 October 2026

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